Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to funding for educational psychologists which will be considered in a report expected to be released in Q2, if she is aware that current trainees are advocating that this funding should match what the HSE offers to ensure equity in the profession; if she will guarantee that all trainees receive equitable financial support and opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18360/23]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that participants in a psychology training programme (details supplied) are provided with the same funding and supports as persons pursuing similar programmes. [18455/23]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the funding for current educational psychology students within Mary Immaculate College and UCD, in light of the supports offered to new entrants to these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18382/23]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline her plans in relation to ensuring equitable treatment in the funding of the education of trainee psychologists (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18424/23]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that participants in a psychology training programme (details supplied) are provided with the same funding and supports as persons pursuing similar programmes. [18454/23]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the funding that will be provided to incoming first-year trainee educational psychologists; if this funding will be provided to all first-year trainee educational psychologists from September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18573/23]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to provide funding for current trainee educational psychologists, separate to the one-off bursary for trainees in their third year of professional training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18574/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 to 49, inclusive, 54, 60, 61, 63 and 64 together.

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the well-being, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.

The NEPS service provides access for schools to:

- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident

- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment

- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and

- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

This overall approach allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent individual cases and, through supporting school staff, to benefit many more children than could be seen individually.

A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how NEPS can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.

To address supply issues in the medium to long term a workforce plan for educational psychologists is being developed within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this. Officials in my Department liaise regularly with the Department of Health, and with Mary Immaculate College and University College Dublin, and, as this work progresses, will continue to do so and to consult with other stakeholders as appropriate.

As an immediate short-term measure the Department introduced a bursary to support Trainee Educational Psychologists currently in their third year (or third year equivalent) of professional training in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC), who expect to graduate in 2023.

The working group referred to above has also been asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of this year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. Funding supports for students of the educational psychological doctorate programme are being considered as part of this process.